Radiant heating apparatus

ABSTRACT

The heating apparatus includes an elongated hood which carries an elongated heating element and an adjustable sensing element adapted to be positioned adjacent to the area or to the animals to be kept warm. The sensing element is electrically connected to a control circuit for controlling the heating current to the heating element.

United States Patent 1191 Kerchner, Jr. et a1.

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.: 208,159

RADIANT HEATING APPARATUS Inventors: Charles F. Kerchner, Jr., Bath;

David A. Ball, Orefield, both of Pa.

Kalglo Electronics Co., Inc., Allentown, Pa.

Dec. 15, 1971 Int. Cl ..F24h 9/02, H051) 3/40 Field of Search ..219/343, 347, 348, 219/349, 354, 521, 536, 552, 553

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Volker ..219/349 ....2l9/354 X ....2l9/347 X Kolb Gialanella.

Marick Auld ..219/347 1451 May 1, 1973 1,587,023 6/1926 Mottlau ..219/349 x 2,349,509 5/1944 Marano ..219/521 1,914,190 0/1933- Herr ..219/521 3,052,789 9/1962 Trainor ..219/341 3,217,139 11/1965 Barber.... ..1219/347 3,586,823 6/1971 Schier ..219/347 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Belgium .l ..219/354 Germany .1

Primary Examiner-Volodymyr Y. Mayewsky Attorney-Robert A. Green [57] ABSTRACT The heating apparatus includes an elongated hood which carries an elongated heating element and an adjustable sensing element adapted to be positioned ad jacent to the area or to the animals to be kept warm. The sensing element is electrically connected to a control circuit for controlling the heating current to the heating element.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1973' Power 'Suppy ll v Pat en ted May 1 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4"

RADIANT HEATING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heating apparatus of various types are known for keeping animals warm. However, such apparatus, for various reasons, has not been completely satisfactory for warming small farm creatures, such as chicks or the like, and there has been a continuous demand for new and improved apparatus. The present invention satisfies this need by providing warming apparatus which is relatively simple in construction, is relatively inexpensive, and is efficient in its capacity to warm an area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, apparatus embodying the invention includes a housing which includes an elongated heating element uniquely supported within the housing and electrically connected to a controlled power source. The housing includes primary and secondary reflectors to optimize the radiation pattern from the housing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of apparatus embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the apparatus of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, along the lines 3-3, in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the invention showing a mode of operation thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the invention showing one mode of operation thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A heating system embodying the invention includes a hood 20 which carries an infrared heating element 30. The hood has a triangular (FIG. 2) or semicircular cross-section (FIG, 3) or the like and, preferably, comprises a single sheet of metal, such as aluminum,

bent to the desired shape to form two walls 21 having a common edge 39 which comprises the apex of the triangular cross-section. The free edges of walls 21 are bent to form lips 23. The ends of the hood are closed by plates 40 (FIG. 2) having side walls 41 which snugly engage walls 21 of the hood and a foot plate 43 which engages or seats on lips 23 of the walls of the hood. The outer surface of the hood is kept as free as possible of holes or protrusions which might act as duct catchers, and the shape is such, particularly with the preferred triangular cross-section, that animal or fowl fecal matter or the like will tend not to stick to or accumulate on the hood.

The heating element 30 is preferably an infrared heater of any suitable type and power. The heating element is supported at its ends by means of metal support plates 45 carrying suitable bushings (not shown in detail) for removably receiving the heating element. The element-support plates 45 are positioned inboard of the end plates 40 and are spaced therefrom a suitable distance. The inboard support plates 45 are supported in place in any suitable manner, for example, by means of integral walls 47 which provide a mechanical tight fit with the walls 21 of the housing 20. Other securing means may also be provided, if desired. The

spaces 49 between the support plates 45 and the end plates 40 can be used for various purposes, for example, to receive electrical wiring for the heating element, 5 or the like. This space 49 can also be used to permit the support plates 45 to be moved appropriately apart or together to receive a larger or smaller heating element, if desired. The heating element is also supported, approximately at its center by one or more removable chrome wire supports 27 (FIG. 3) which support the heating element by means of a horizontal portion 27A from which arms 27B extend and rest on the lips 23 of the hood 20. The heating element is electrically connected to a control circuit and power supply 50 suitably supported remote from the apparatus 10 and including an all solid state controller circuit described and claimed in copending application Ser. No. 28,659, filed Apr. 15, 1970.

The heater of the invention also includes a first or main reflector 33 which comprises a curved piece of polished metal such as aluminum which extends along the, length of the hood with its concave surface 33A facing the heating element 30 so that it can efficiently reflect heat from the heating element. The main reflector is suitably secured to the hood, for example, by having its long edges 33B resting on the lips 23 of walls 21. Thus supported, the reflector 33 is easily removed for cleaning or. replacement. Other securing means may be provided if required for the reflector 33.

A second reflector 37 is also preferably provided. This reflector is of polished metal and preferably extends along the length of the hood parallel to and beneath the heating element 30. This reflector is preferably generally triangular in shape and has an apex 37A facing the heating element. This element, too, is suitably supported, preferably on the end plates 40. The auxiliary -reflector 37 prevents the concentration of the thermal energy directly under the heating element and diffuses the heat energy and thus broadens the area over which heat is propagated by the heating element. It thus provides a wider usable heating area beneath the hood 20.

The heater 10 is supported in a building in any suitable fashion, and, in one arrangement, the apex 39 of the hood is provided with holes in which S-hooks 51 or the like are inserted and to which chains 53 can be connected for securing the hood to the ceiling of a building.

The heater hood is also provided with legs 55, one secured to each end plate 40 by any suitable means such as rivets or the like. The legs 55 serve to cause the heater to fall on its side if its support chains 53 should break, rather than have it fall on its open base. If thelatter should happen, the heating element 30 might contact something on the floor and cause a fire.

In addition, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 4, S- hooks 51 and chains 53 can also be connected to one of the hood lips 23, and, by suitable adjustment thereof, the hood can be tilted to direct the heater rays in a desired direction. The heater element support is designed such that the heater may be tipped 90 without causing the element to slide out of the focal line.

The system 10 includes a heat-sensing element 60 suitably supported beneath the hood 20. The element 60 may be suspended from the housing 20, or it may be suspended from the ceiling. The element 60 includes, preferably, a semiconductor sensing element (not shown) mounted in a generally cylindrical metallic container 80 painted black for optimum radiant heat absorption. The sensor is shaped so that a large percentage of its area will be exposed to incident radiant energy. The heat-sensing element is electrically connected through an insulated cable 90 to circuit 50 for sensing the ambient temperature and controlling the heating current to the heating element 30. The cable 90 is of sufficient length so that the sensor unit 60 can be adjustably positioned with respect to the area to be heated. For example, for warming chicks, the sensing element is held about one inch from the floor, among the chicks and offset about eighteen inches from a vertical line extending downwardly from the heating element 30. This provides optimum operation of the system.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, if relatively large animals such as pigs or the like are to be warmed, the sensing element 60 can be hung on a wall or the like adjacent to the hood and covered with a protective screen 1 or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. Animal warming apparatus comprising an elongated sheet metal hood having a triangular cross-section formed by a pair of side walls joined along a common edge to form an apex line with their opposite edges spaced apart to form a chamber between said walls, said opposite edges of said walls being bent inwardly to form a horizontal ledge extending along the length of each of said walls,

said hood being free of holes and projections which might act as dust and dirt catchers,

at least two hook members secured to said apex line of said hood whereby said hood can be secured to a support member and whereby said hood can be tilted about its longitudinal axis by means of auxiliary hooks secured to the free edge of one of said walls to permit the apparatus to be aimed at a of said end walls to provide two small chambers in which electrical wiring elements can be disposed, an elongated electric heating element disposed inside said chamber and supported by said auxiliary support walls, curved reflector element disposed inside said chamber surrounding said heating element and having its edges supported on said ledges formed at the free edges of said side walls, at least one wire-like auxiliary support member supporting said heating element and itself being supported on said ledges, and a thermal electric sensor electrically connected to said heating element and an insulated electrical cable, said thermal sensor being secured at the end of said cable, said cable is coupled to said hood and being adjustable to vertically position said thermal sensor at a desired distance directly beneath said hood to sense heat directly beneath said hood. 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and including an auxiliary reflector element disposed beneath said heating element.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and including an auxiliary reflector element disposed beneath said heating element extending along the length of said heating element and having a generally triangular cross-section so that radiant energy from said heating element is diffused laterally thereby to cover a relatively wide area beneath said apparatus.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said thermal sensor is of such adjustability that it can be positioned beneath said apparatus among the animals being warmed.

'5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said thermal sensor is secured to a support surface adjacent to said apparatus and is enclosed and protected by a protective screen member.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and including a pair of rods, each secured to one of said end walls and extending vertically downwardly a short distance from said walls whereby, if the support means which is secured between the ceiling of a building and said hook members breaks and said apparatus falls, then the apparatus lands on said rods and said rods cause said apparatus to rotate and not fall vertically downwardly whereby said heating element is prevented from burning anything which might be located directly beneath it. 

1. Animal warming apparatus comprising an elongated sheet metal hood having a triangular cross-section formed by a pair of side walls joined along a common edge to form an apex line with their opposite edges spaced apart to form a chamber between said walls, said opposite edges of said walls being bent inwardly to form a horizontal ledge extending along the length of each of said walls, said hood being free of holes and projections which might act as dust and dirt catchers, at least two hook members secured to said apex line of said hood whereby said hood can be secured to a support member and whereby said hood can be tilted about its longitudinal axis by means of auxiliary hooks secured to the free edge of one of said walls to permit the apparatus to be aimed at a desired location, metal end walls secured to the opposite free ends of said walls to close the ends of said hood, two auxiliary support walls secured to said side walls inside said chamber, each being spaced from one of said end walls to provide two small chambers in which electrical wiring elements can be disposed, an elongated electric heating element disposed inside said chamber and supported by said auxiliary support walls, a curved reflector element disposed inside said chamber surrounding said heating element and having its edges supported on said ledges formed at the free edges of said side walls, at least one wire-like auxiliary support member supporting said heating element and itself being supported on said ledges, and a thermal electric sensor electrically connected to said heating element and an insulated electrical cable, said thermal sensor being secured at the end of said cable, said cable is coupled to said hood and being adjustable to vertically position said thermal sensor at a desired distance directly beneath said hood to sense heat directly beneath said hood.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and including an auxiliary reflector element disposed beneath said heating element.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and including an auxiliary reflector element disposed beneath said heating element extending along the length of said heating element and having a generally triangular cross-section so that radiant energy from said heating element is diffused laterally thereby to cover a relatively wide area beneath said apparatus.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said thermal sensor is of such adjustability that it can be positioned beneath said apparatus among the animals being warmed.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said thermal sensor is secured to a support surface adjacent to said apparatus and is enclosed and protected by a protective screen member.
 6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and including a pair of rods, each secured to one of said end walls and extending vertically downwardly a short distance from said walls whereby, if the support means which is secured between the ceiling of a building and said hook members breaks and said apparatus falls, then the apparatus lands on said rods and said rods cause said apparatus to rotate and not fall vertically downwardly whereby said heating element is prevented from burning anything which might be located directly beneath it. 